virginia: I'm doing a paper, and how long would it take sailors from Massachusetts Boston area to Sail to Port Royal in Virginia. Or somewhere around there|||5 to 10 days. In a sloop, 6 average. Boston to Norfolk. 500 miles coming around the hook. 5 knots average speed. Good wind 7 knots, head wind 3 knots. You would need to zig zag in a head wind. so 100 hours to come around the hook. At Cape Charles. And up into the Bay. 50 miles to Palmer Va. 10 hours. 70 miles to Port Royal VA. Up the chanel 2 knots average with a bit of luck. Narrow water. 35 hours up chanel. 6 days. is what I would plan. And pray for fair wind. If good wind all the way. 4 days. 14 against the wind all the way.|||5-10 days, depending on the weather. Here's my reasoning. A translantic trip, such as by Columbus, took 1-2 months; depending on the weather. For about 3000 miles. The trip from Mass to Virginia is about 500 miles; or one-sixth of the way across the Atlantic. So, divide 30-60 days by six, and you get 5-10 days.